Grammy Award-winning Songwriter/artist Rae Khalil Debuts Highly Anticipated New Album ‘Crybaby’
Grammy Award-winning songwriter and R&B/hip-hop artist Rae Khalil unleashes her highly anticipated major label debut album, CRYBABY, out now via Def Jam Recordings. The album is set to make waves in the music industry, showcasing Khalil’s dynamic ability to explore universal themes that bind over atmospheric production.
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The 13-track project sees the California singer and rapper diving deep into self-reflection with the help of Anderson .Paak and longtime collaborator Jared Rubens. “I think it was great for me to have someone like Anderson on this album to run off my ideas and him say, ‘How can you take these to greater heights?’” she says. On the title track, “CRYBABY,” she faces the mirror, confessing the song’s subject is mostly herself: “I’m just playing with anything that makes me really emotional, whether it’s my relationships, my job, my personal journey.”
The CRYBABY album also features one of Khalil’s most talked-about tracks, “Is It Worth It.” The fan-favorite song has amassed over 1.2 million Spotify streams and counting, alongside earning praise from top-tier tastemakers with looks from Billboard, Variety, ESSENCE Girls United, and more. Additionally, CRYBABY flaunts guest spots from Anderson .Paak, Freddie Gibbs, Benny Sings, TianaMajor9, Kha|!|, and Zacari.
Back in June, Khalil participated in UMG’s Loud & Proud artist showcase to celebrate Pride 2024. The event was livestreamed exclusively on 3point5, a popular Twitch channel, and featured live performances by the APESHIT signee, indie pop band Valley, and emerging artist Emeline.
CRYBABY follows the June-released single “SHE’S A BORE,” which has been touted as a song that “flaunts her impressive range and storytelling across the verses” from YouKnowIGotSoul. It’s also Khalil’s first official release on Anderson .Paak’s APESHIT label.
The Southern California born-and-raised artist has been on a speedy ascension since her notable appearance on Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow in 2019. She followed that up with 2020’s FORTHEWORLD LP. Then, Khalil received her first Grammy win for her songwriting and background vocal contributions to “Lockdown” by Anderson .Paak. The song won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021.
As she continues to level up with each release, Khalil refuses to be boxed in and doesn’t shy away from pushing the boundaries of new age R&B.
Stream CRYBABY above, check out the full tracklist below and stay tuned for more from Rae Khalil.
CRYBABY TRACKLIST:
1. HOT TRACK (ft. AA Rashid)
2. IS IT WORTH IT
3. CARPINTERIA (ft. Freddie Gibbs)
4. SHE’S A BORE
5. IRREPLACEABLE
6. COME HOME (ft. Khal!l)
7. IT IS WHAT IT IS (ft. Benny Sings & TianaMajor9)
8. CRYBABY
9. KNOW YOU (ft. Anderson .Paak)
10. DON’T MATTER
11. CISCO’S SONG
12. BITTERSWEET (ft. Zacari)
13. OVERCAST/OVERTURE
ABOUT RAE KHALIL
Rae Khalil wants the world to move with her. The California singer and rapper’s music seamlessly blends a refreshing take on new age soul, R&B, and pop stylings with more classic hip-hop influences, threaded together by euphoric production and vivid storytelling. She reminds fans of her skills with “Is It Worth It,” a thoughtful new single for her upcoming album, CRYBABY. The LP sees Khalil diving deep into self-reflection with the help of Anderson .Paak and longtime collaborator Jared Rubens. The track’s smooth vocals, retro soul influence, and atmospheric production create a backdrop to empowerment and introspection, themes that fuel her most revealing project to date. Khalil released her debut hip-hop project, Girlfriend, in 2018. In 2019, she appeared on Netflix reality music show Rhythm + Flow, earning co-signs from Queen Latifah and Common, as well as .Paak’s backing band, Free Nationals. In 2020, she leveled up again when she released her project FORTHEWORLD, which earned millions of Spotify streams and even more respect. By 2021, she won a Grammy for her songwriting and vocals on Anderson .Paak’s “Lockdown” before signing to his APESHIT x Def Jam label in 2023. She’s come far, but there are other places to go, starting with the depths of her own thoughts. With CRYBABY, Khalil is opening up her process, and in turn looking increasingly inward. She’s pushing herself to be more honest and vulnerable—sharing her journey, challenges, growth, and everything in between.
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